I think with better halves and quicker ball out wide Westy could thrive like he did at Cas. O also think Galea right now is better than both of them.

Think we would have missed him more if we didnt get foster in on loan for his goal kicking. otherwise it seemed other players stepped up in the mean time

Some of Westermans plays are superb, he just needs consistency.

To have 5 back rowers of our quality is quite amazing.

I think we'll see Tickle more in the middle next year, Westerman is far better out wide than the middle, as is Ellis, and Tickle's game wouldn't need to change all that much whether he wears 12 or 13, since most of his game is based around hitting good lines and working hard.

Aint it nice to have this headache, thankfully its PG`s choice of bench warmers. Ellis Tickle Whiting for me. Rotation after a couple of weeks with one or two changes to keep the fellas fresh without disrupting the fluency of our play. Not anticipating any injuries next season FFS.

Injuries and keeping players fresh will ensure all 5 get plenty of game time,PG,s headache on who to select would come in big games at the end of season if all 5 were fit.
I think a lot of our supporters are going to be really surprised how good Galea still is.

Agreed. I think some comments about Galea are completely disrespectful.

I also think that Galea could do a job from the bench in the front row.

I would doubt Gentle would specifically sign him and then not use him.

Regarding Whiting, well 3 years ago I was not convinced, but i was wrong about him. I though the injuries he got (broken leg at London, specifically ) would have been a bit too much to come back from. Again, gentle offered him an extension, Whiting will be used.

If we end up with completely new halves (if Prince signs) I think we will see a far more effective Westerman as he will have more time, space and gaps to run into. If anything, the signing of Prince would make Tickles kicking slightly more replaceable.

Front row?

Rich Whiting WAS most of the season our best player by a mile last year and will carry on to be one of our best players this coming season and given the comments PG made when he was injured about him at the end of the season PH knows all too well just how good a player he is and how valuable he is to the team ..
Our next captain ???

What an excellent position to be in next season for PG, as he said last season his players played through the pain barrier, injections, niggling injuries etc etc and played on despite of all the problems. This now gives him the oportunity to rest certain players when a week or so off gives them the time to recover properly from these niggling injuries rather than play on with injections etc, quality in depth is what he's after and long term keeping them all as fit as possible. I hope PG stays for the next ten years, he knows what he wants and the way to go about it long term and I for one wish him well for all our sakes. He'll use the squad to the full next season and keep them all fresh, got to be good ! We've got quality all over the park and some to spare for the first time for ages, if ever !

Rich Whiting will only be classes as back up to those who still consider the sport to be a 13 man game.

He will play more games than he doesn't regardless of whether he is left out of the first game or not.

But does he? The boots off he's back in the Gym and cycling every day, fitness levels should be pretty good and start of pre-season training still 10 days away.

Galea will be vital next year for us, especially if we don't get a SH. If he stays fit he will prove to be one of our best signings.

he'll be battling it out with westerman for the loose man shirt, i'm sure he'll be a regular in the 17, likely to be on the bench with o'meley, galea and heremaia

Whiting will do what he does every year, earn his shirt and keep it, for me the bloke is one of the most under-rated players in SL, and I can never understand our annual will Whiting be just a back up thread.

I couldn't agree more.
I get so fed up of this pointless, ridiculous discussion every year.
RW has proved consistently every season that he is one of our best players and gives 100% every game.
Thankfully PG knows his value.

Should maybe do a poll to see who people would rather have at 13 between Whiting and Westerman.

no brainer, whiting every time for me.... first name on the team sheet for me

Can Whiting play 7?

Think I would rather go with

6 Whiting
7 Holdsworth

Than have any other current combo.

Whiting at half back?

I am a big, big fan of his but don't recall him having much of a kicking game.

I don't recall us having much of a kicking game in general

He got MOM against Leeds playing in the halves

Whiting played as an extra backrower that game

and Houghton can pull off a long range kick from acting half, he hasn't done it enough for me to say whether it's luck or a kicking game hiding away in there

Whiting.

Westerman is much better on the edges than he is in the middle. Very dangerous in attack.

For 13 next season I think it'll be between Whiting and Galea.

Whiting's the best option to have on the bench, too. He can interchange the backrow and also cover any injuries in the backs.

I think that all 5 of our 'high-profile' back rowers will get a lot of appearances next season - there are going to be injuries at some point.